Has anyone else lost faith in Bill Armstrong?

[Neighborhood Coyote]

It may be a quote from OEL but I'm hearing Tocchet's words. These words are absolutely Tocchet to a T and shows how much he's in OEL's head.

Just cant believe Tocchet is this bad he's sending out his captain with no game plan at all. What's worse is how long it's taken us to realise just how bad Tocchet is tbh. I guess we were probably just relieved to have someone new after the Tippett era so he got an extra long honeymoon.

Definitely something going on with OEL's mental side of the game. My hope(s) are that since he sees his issues on the ice that he can try to address it... and that a new coach can help him get his game back to where it should be (or at least on the right track).

 

[Vinny Boombatz]

I'm only speculating, but OEL had one of his better years under Tocchet in his first year, and you have to remember that the Def Coach wasn't Housley, it was Allen and the last two years which have been OELs worst it has been Housley...I'm just saying that maybe the coaches are asking the players to do things they normally wouldn't do.

I'm on the side of the fence to see our entire team under a new coach except for Brassard, Fischer, Oesterle, Hjalmarsson, Demers

Everyone else can stay and see what we've got under a competent coach.

 

[XX]

Dropping two embarrassing games to the banged up Sharks that eliminate you from the playoffs while being one of the worst teams in the league over the last ten games is apparently okay with Bill Armstrong and Meruelo.

They really should stop and think about what they're communicating to the fanbase

 

[Jormungandr]

What says they’re ok with it? Firing the coach with less than 10 games in the season was always unrealistic. When was the last time a coach was fired with only 6 games left? It was obvious after the trade deadline they were going to be given the rest of the season to sink or swim. They look to be sinking. If we start next season with Tocchet and most of the gong show back then you can bitch.

 

[JasonDemersWasOkay]

I just hope he doesn’t beat around the bush after the last game. As soon as lockers are cleaned out announce that Tocchet won’t be back.

I want to see accountability, acknowledgement, and communication that none of the shit we saw this season is okay. I’m sick of hearing about the existence of BA’s plan and I want to see it start to take place. He’s had plenty of time to evaluate.

 

[rt]

Dropping two embarrassing games to the banged up Sharks that eliminate you from the playoffs while being one of the worst teams in the league over the last ten games is apparently okay with Bill Armstrong and Meruelo.

They really should stop and think about what they're communicating to the fanbase

I suspect they're not looking to needlessly burn bridges. Even if BA doesn't have confidence in RT and plans to move on, he's certainly not MAD at RT and doesn't want to take punitive measures against him. As fans, we want him embarrassed because it's cathartic to mobs like us. There's no incentive for BA to do it now. I'm not made RT didn't get fired today. I'm made he didn't get fired March 17th. There was still time then to give Varady a shot at turning things around and see how players like OEL and Schmaltz would have responded. That's a missed opportunity for intelligence gathering and roster analysis and future forecasting. You don't get anything tangible out of firing Tocchet today.

If I was in charge? I'd fire his ass for sure. I'd name myself HC and strip OEL of the C and health bomb him in all remaining games.

 

[AZviaNJ]

What says they’re ok with it? Firing the coach with less than 10 games in the season was always unrealistic. When was the last time a coach was fired with only 6 games left? It was obvious after the trade deadline they were going to be given the rest of the season to sink or swim. They look to be sinking. If we start next season with Tocchet and most of the gong show back then you can bitch.

The Devils did it twice...Ftorek and Julian.

 

[Schemp]

It will definitely be an interesting off-season. Next season will be GMBA's team.
This season felt like an interim season. Foolish to have any high expectations.
As far as Tocchet, I don't want him fired, then outside of the organization. I just don't want him as the Coyotes head coach.

 

[hbk]

I’ll take my apology now, thanks.

EDIT: whenever it’s convenient. No rush.

Well... i actually liked the first half of OEL’s season but based on his comments i have to say you were right and i (not unexpectedly) am an idiot.

 

[rt]

Well... i actually liked the first half of OEL’s season but based on his comments i have to say you were right and i (not unexpectedly) am an idiot.

Oh no! Don’t really do it! Haha. I was kidding. Just say “go f*** yourself, rt!”

 

[rt]

It will definitely be an interesting off-season. Next season will be GMBA's team.
This season felt like an interim season. Foolish to have any high expectations.
As far as Tocchet, I don't want him fired, then outside of the organization. I just don't want him as the Coyotes head coach.

I like Tocchet. I hope he ends up with a terrific and fulfilling post-plying career. I just don’t want him on this team’s coaching staff now, or ever again.

 

[Jakey53]

It may be a quote from OEL but I'm hearing Tocchet's words. These words are absolutely Tocchet to a T and shows how much he's in OEL's head.

Just cant believe Tocchet is this bad he's sending out his captain with no game plan at all. What's worse is how long it's taken us to realise just how bad Tocchet is tbh. I guess we were probably just relieved to have someone new after the Tippett era so he got an extra long honeymoon.

It doesn't stop with OEL. I believe RT has many players confused and with many struggling with low confidence, and that could be why we see so much inconsistency with so many players, and really, the team in general.

 

[Jakey53]

The Devils did it twice...Ftorek and Julian.

You mean the "Mickey Mouse" organization?

 

[The Feckless Puck]

You mean the "Mickey Mouse" organization?

If they're Mickey Mouse, then we're totally Donald Duck.

 

[hbk]

Oh no! Don’t really do it! Haha. I was kidding. Just say “go f*** yourself, rt!”

Hey. If i dish it out i should eat it. That quote disturbs me on ao many levels. oEL is a much better player than we have seen for years. He was better at 19 playing in the swedish elite league than what we see now. He gets lost 1-2 shifts a game and those usually end up in our net. He’s a mental light weight right now and shouldn’t be the leader of the team.

 

[Schemp]

If they're Mickey Mouse, then we're totally Donald Duck.

Really? I thought we were more like Goofy...

 

[RemoAZ]

Hey. If i dish it out i should eat it. That quote disturbs me on ao many levels. oEL is a much better player than we have seen for years. He was better at 19 playing in the swedish elite league than what we see now. He gets lost 1-2 shifts a game and those usually end up in our net. He’s a mental light weight right now and shouldn’t be the leader of the team.

It could very well be the pressure of the C is messing with his head. Not everyone is a good leader. Good player doesn't = good captain. Sometimes that next level of responsibility/authority is just too much. If that's the case, the Coyotes need to recognize it and remove the C or completely remove him from the situation. If they are getting crap offers for him, removing the C is better than doing nothing.

 

[AZviaNJ]

You mean the "Mickey Mouse" organization?

Maybe McDavid will call Arizona a Mickey Mouse organization and then the Coyotes will go out and win 3 cups.

 

[BUX7PHX]

The Devils did it twice...Ftorek and Julian.

The way that I look at it is set the bar with a firing. As players, if your GM is willing to part with a coach for the final 6 games, that should be used as a challenge to see if they want to stay here. Any player who follows the Tocchet method for the last 6 games has exposed themselves as someone who we can move on from. Any player that embraces the change is one who we can ride with into the next year.

Either way, it also tells players and fans that we aren't putting up with any further BS.

 

[Bonsai Tree]

Oh no! Don’t really do it! Haha. I was kidding. Just say “go f*** yourself, rt!”

I can do that! Go f*** yourself rt. I was wrong about OEL. I see in his comments a player who has given up. As for Tocchet, I am right that BA won’t can him w a dozen games left. As far as next year- I’m now tilting towards not renewing his contract.

 

[KG]

We need to trade OEL. Even if he's still capable of playing to the allstar level again... he needs a change of scenery.

 

[The Feckless Puck]

Really? I thought we were more like Goofy...

Goofy's at least likeable.

 

[TheLegend]

If they're Mickey Mouse, then we're totally Donald Duck.

I’d think Goofy would be more accurate.

Goofy's at least likeable.

Huey, Dewey and Louie then??

 

[87turbobuick]

Never had faith in Armstrong, just because he was an assistant means nothing. He gets more time, probably at least the next 2 years to prove his mettle. What he does in the expansion draft will determine if he is a hockey lifer, an empty chair or just another guy who finally got paid. He has to shed at least 2 of the big contracts of his underperforming forwards.

 

[Coyotedroppings]

We need to trade OEL. Even if he's still capable of playing to the allstar level again... he needs a change of scenery.

Yeah, like not having to look at the chrome dome donned by the meathead!